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For Today...
'Father in Heaven how we Love You'
Not the easiest rhythm for a congregation to get hold of, but a good worship song, whether it gets smoothed out or not!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pWINTctJVc - nice rendering, with the obligatory chorus repeat modulation... plus a nice little twist at the end.(09/10/2025)
Recent links
'All Who are Thirsty (Come Lord Jesus, Come)'
Song with a gentle opening and a powerful chorus that you can build on.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaqwB1K0ggA - gets taken down to the right level after the introduction.(08/10/2025)
'You laid aside Your Majesty'
A song which we, like many, first learned from Mission Praise 2... or if not that, then from Songs of Fellowship 1. The chorus melody contained what appears to be a curious misprint, which many church musicians (in churches I visited, anyway) faithfully taught their congregations and which they sang for years afterwards!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFICAbIxv_M - gets the tone about right - a version noticeable for the backing vocals.(07/10/2025)
'There is a Redeemer'
Works well after communion - and at other times. A song we know very well: I like to pull it around, and the congregation is ready for it.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUqfdaCLm0Y - a very steady Robin Mark take on the famous Melody Green song.(30/09/2025)
'Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven'
Magnificent hymn - Henry Lyte was a great writer and Goss's tune is one of those for which you can't beat a good pipe organ.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx1eMwlDFb8 - from the choir of Westminster Abbey. Great last verse but only four altogether.www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jbVNquFuZs - here's a five verse version, thanks to the Metropolitan Tabernacle, London.
(29/09/2025)
'Let all the world in every corner sing'
George Herbert and Basil Harwood - a great poet paired with a fine musician - gives you a great hymn. A particularly good choice if you want a short opener.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfXldoDnvq4 - a Songs of Praise recording.(28/09/2025)
'Strength will rise'
Upbeat song, with a strong rhythm and variety of melody.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=egPS5aZZHrg - album recording.(27/09/2025)
'Speak, O Lord, as we come to You'
Townend-Getty opener / pre-Word song.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubRlJj8xkds - The Gettys' official slow-paced take.(26/09/2025)
'Bless the Lord'
A Kenyan song collected by John Bell. Best sung with a cantor calling 'in the gaps' for engagement - good fun.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3opAaLk9kQ - An example of usage from 'the album of the book'.(25/09/2025)
'Halleluya! we sing Your praises'
Lively praise song, works well as a post-communion / sending out song.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQnrPcPqsKI - a choral take on it.(24/09/2025)
'Open the eyes of my heart, Lord'
Great worship song by Paul Baloche, and fun to play too - plenty of ways to do it.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwqpKD-qBt4 - Live recording from Maranatha Music.(23/09/2025)
'Mayenziwe'
Your will be done on earth, O Lord.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ6Gkdb4_Bk - a very choral performance.(22/09/2025)
'And can it be?'
A good, solid old Wesley hymn, and a great tune. My take on this (on organ) is to follow the words carefully and explore the full dynamic range over five verses, building to roof-raising at the end.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQeIGbKqiw8 - from Songs of Praise, nicely paced, but as ever, a verse short.(21/09/2025)
'All my Days'
Makes a great opener, and the chorus lends itself to improvisation.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEiZ2RlPQeo - a live recording from Stoneleigh.(20/09/2025)
'Christ's is the World'
A song of challenge and hope.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTIwZ3XNyEY - a Songs of Praise recording, shortened. (With the choir of Liverpool Met., rather than congregation.)(19/09/2025)
'From heaven to here (Stranger's guise)'
This makes a refreshing change for a pre-communion song, and put the tune 'Leaving of Liverpool' to good use.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2ORR3HMpcY - album recording, far more ambitious than you would sing in a service.(18/09/2025)
'Amazing Grace'
There are many versions of this great John Newton hymn. I tend towards the view that if you make it too complicated for the bagpipes, you may be doing it wrong!
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06wcjxq - a Songs of Praise recording, mixing the styles, and with the now customary added verse. From iPlayer.www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb4oMRbJg0g - We have repurposed secular tunes for sacred songs since forever. In a good case, you get a song that's more accessible and has a great tune. In a bad case, people can't get the secular song out of their heads, and you stray towards I'm Sorry I haven't a Clue's "One song to the tune of another". This one adds to Newton's original and set it to "Auld Lang Syne". Perhaps surprisingly, it works pretty well. I rather like it...
(17/09/2025)
'O Sacred Head Sore Wounded'
There are many recordings of this on the web, none of which are quite like the arrangement I play. I've chosen the late, great Sir David Willcocks and King's College Choir.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yi4gbXnjRsU(16/09/2025)
'Your word is a lamp unto my feet'
Beautiful and moving song by Amy Grant. Needs to be piano based. I rather like an old-fashioned electric piano kind of sound for this. Also, the middle section is a gift if you're playing bass.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=npWJZwgmKMo - this version by the Maranatha Singers.(15/09/2025)
'Lead us, Heavenly Father, Lead us'
A good Trinitarian hymn, which is also co-opted for occasions when state and church mix.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGsvbqErM2A - a Songs of Praise recording, from a parade service.(14/09/2025)
'He was pierced for our transgressions'
A Maggi Dawn song - goes back to the 1980s, but it has an enduring quality. Can be used liturgically, or in worship, lends itself to harmonising...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujOsj-J04i8 - a recording from a Baptist church in Kenya - beautifully done.(13/09/2025)
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